A/N This is actually the first fanfic I wrote. I finally pulled it up and wrote the ending. I know this trope has been done many times, but this is my take. We pick up the action just after Voldemort has been resurrected in the graveyard at the end of GOF. AU No Cedric with him and somewhat more sassy Harry. Harmony.
M for violence
Graveyard Little Hangleton
Harry awoke to find his body bound but his arms free and a cut on his right arm. His wand was lying on the ground several feet away to his left.
Hearing voices, Harry looked to his right and felt an icy ball form in his stomach, then he smiled, a smile that might have seemed incongruous to anyone observing the scene. Reaching up to a small object attached to a chain under his shirt, he took it out.
The snake faced shape said, "The other arm Peter" and the recently resurrected Voldemort pressed his wand to the Dark Mark to summon his followers, Pettigrew whimpered at the pain.
"Let us see which of our friends return."
Looking past his Lord at Harry, Peter's eyes widened, not only from the pain in his arms.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Voldemort's newly formed forearms and wand disappeared in a gory pink mist followed by Peter's chest, then Nagini writhed on the ground having been cut in half. A dark mist formed a shadow face and screamed before dissipating.
"Accio wand" and Harry's wand flew back to his hand, deftly catching it with a seeker's reflexes, he pointed it at a still screaming Voldemort.
"STUPEFY"
"INCENDIO"
After stunning Voldemort and cauterising the mangled remnants of his arms, Harry freed himself from the statue's clutches and lifted his weapon and waited, weapon raised in readiness.
CRACK!
BOOM!
CRACK!
BOOM!
As each death eater apparated in, he was met with a blast from Harry's weapon. He did have some trouble when the Carrows appeared at the same time, but he managed to dodge the one spell Alecto got off while Harry dispatched her sibling.
After all had appeared and been dispatched and waiting a few minutes to be sure, Harry walked around all the death eaters and began removing their masks.
"Well, well Lucius, Minister Fudge is going to be upset, no more contributions to his… retirement fund! Not to mention the likely vote of no confidence. I wonder who Draco will threaten me with now?"
Harry walked back over to the unconscious Dark Lord, binding him securely and using Magic Suppressing bands on his arms, these he had carried shrunken on his belt as well, they had been his father's from his time as an Auror.
Pressing his wand against the back of Riddle's neck, Harry intoned "ANODYNIA". This overpowered pain reducing charm stopped the nerves in the Dark Lord's neck from transmitting signals, temporarily paralysing him.
"ENERVATE"
"Potter! What…How... Release me and I will make your death quick."
"Now, now Tommy-boy, you are hardly in a position to make demands, your stumps are magically cauterised so no one can regrow your arms even if your wand wasn't destroyed. Pity that." Said Harry with a feral smile. "Oh and those magic suppressing bands also stop you apparating yourself."
"What is that vile muggle device you hold in your hands?"
"Oh this old thing? Let me tell you a story…"
. . . . . . .
4th Year, week after drawing of names from Goblet of Fire.
"Professor Dumbledore, may I speak with you in private please"
"Of Course Harry, come to my office."
"Professor, someone has obviously entered me into the Tri-Wizard tournament with the intention of doing me harm, most likely at the behest of Voldemort. Why?"
"Harry, I believe I know why, but I believe you are too young to be burdened with this."
"Too young!" Harry exploded. "Was I too young when I faced him at 11 and again at 12? When I faced 100 Dementors at 13? It's my life and I need to know!"
Albus sighed, Harry had a point. "Are you sure Harry? This genie cannot be put back in the bottle."
"I am sure sir, please tell me."
"I am not prepared to give you all the details, but there was a prophecy made a few months before you were born that indicated that you have the power defeat the Dark Lord. A Death eater overheard part of the prophecy and told Voldemort."
"Who overheard it?"
"That's not important right now Harry, but this is why Voldemort pursues you. There is also another part to the prophecy that says you will have the power to vanquish Tom, a power he knows not. I believe that power is Love."
"Love?" Replied Harry dubiously.
"Well Tom certainly never knew love."
"Was their anything else to the Prophecy Sir"
"Only that he would mark you as his equal, which the scar on your forehead plainly shows he did." replied the Headmaster. Harry wasn't certain he was being completely honest with that comment but let it go.
"OK Sir, I need to think about this" replied Harry and got up and went back to the Gryffindor dorms
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Harry lay on his bed and mused. 'How can it be love? What even IS love? How would I know what love is like? Who can teach me? Ron and Hermione have loving families but I doubt they could explain it. Sirius obviously cares about me and is old enough to explain it…maybe. I'll need his help on this, even if he is on the run.'
Harry wrote to Sirius giving him all the details and asking his advice.
A reply came back to meet Sirius behind The Three Broomsticks next Hogsmeade weekend. Harry made his excuses to his friends saying he wasn't feeling 100% and headed behind the pub.
After hugging Harry, Sirius spoke. "Harry, love is a wonderful thing, but I feel we need advice from a different source."
Sirius side-apparated him to outside Gringotts after applying glamours to both of them. Together they met with Griphook, with Sirius changing them back once they were inside.
"Well met Account Manager Griphook, may your gold flow and your enemies fall before you like wheat before the scythe."
The goblin stared briefly at Harry in surprise and replied. "May your gold increase and you enemies blood drip from your blade. Thank you Mr Potter, rare indeed is the wizard who bothers to learn anything of Goblin customs, although your mother was one."
"Call me Harry please. You served as account manager to my parents?"
"Thank you Harry and you may dispense with my title. Yes, I had the honour to serve your parents and also your grandparents as well." Replied the Goblin. "And it was indeed an honour, your mother in particular treated us as equals which earned her much respect among the people. You seem to be following in her footsteps".
Harry and Sirius then explained Harry's history, starting with his abandonment at the Dursleys and his treatment by them. He included all the events at Hogwarts, about the prophecy, being able to vanquish Voldemort, being marked as Voldemort's equal and the power he knows not.
After Harry concluded and showed the scars on his back from the Dursleys, Griphook was furious. To Goblins, children were a precious gift and no Goblin would ever harm one.
Sirius was in tears. "I should never have left you with Hagrid" he whispered.
"They….must….pay!" ground out Griphook.
"Why?" shrugged Harry, "It won't change anything."
"They harmed a child! There is no worse crime! They have no honour, they also dishonoured your parents."
Harry considered this, seeing the events in a different light for the first time.
"They try to be normal, to be fine upstanding members of the community." He said softly, "so show the world that they are monsters, they are the freaks. Show the world they are without honour."
"With pleasure" smiled Griphook "I will destroy them."
"Harry," said Griphook. "I am concerned about the diary you described and also about the pain in your scar."
"Prongslet, Voldemort is a very powerful wizard and right now you can't match him for power or skill. Therefore you have to fight him in a way that doesn't play to his strengths. Have you ever heard of asymmetric warfare?"
"No, I haven't, what is it?"
"Mr Potter," Griphook said. "Asymmetric warfare means fighting your battles in a different way to your enemy. As you no doubt know, the goblins are a warlike race. We don't use wands, so are forced to fight using different methods. This is why we use swords, spears, battle axes and bows. Now you may not have noticed, but all of our weapons are made of steel in particular. Not only is it strong, but Wizards have trouble casting shield charms that work well against steel."
"You want me to use a sword against Voldemort?!"
Griphook laughed. "No, Mr Potter despite your excellent and successful efforts against the Basilisk you do not have time to develop enough skill to be useful. However, we might be able to help provide you with an equaliser. Have either of you ever heard of a squib named Maxwell Atchisson?"
"No" replied Harry after a moments reflection.
"Atchisson? I think I may have heard your grandfather mention him" said Sirius.
"Indeed Lord Black you are correct, he was a friend of Harry's grandfather. After they met during the Grindelwald war and they stayed in contact after Mr Atchisson left the American military. Your grandfather helped him on a number of occasions and when Charlus Potter heard rumours about the rise of Voldemort in the 1970's he asked Mr Atchisson for assistance. With your guardian's permission, we can go to your family vault and retrieve what he provided."
After an exhilarating ride in the cart, they entered the Potter family vault. There, on a shelf to the left of the piles of gold was a meter long plastic case. Griphook gestured to it and said with a smile. "Your equaliser, Mr Potter."
Opening it, Harry revealed a long somewhat boxy weapon with a wide barrel and a magazine coming out the bottom.
"What is it?"
"That Mr Potter is an Atchisson Assault Shotgun."
. . . . . . .
Graveyard Little Hangleton
"So anyway Tommy, when I was away by myself training for the Tri-Wizard tournament I spent some time learning to use my little friend here and how to wandlessly cast Accio and other simple charms. My grandfather charmed it to reduce recoil, weight and the magazines have space charms to provide room for 500 rounds of stainless steel shot. It also has runes on it to shrink it to a couple of inches long and allow it to be un-shrunk as well. He couldn't do much about the noise so I do appreciate you putting silencing charms around the graveyard."
Pressing two widely separated runes at the same time, Harry shrunk and stowed his weapon.
"Anyway, time for us to get back, we can't keep our public waiting."
Taking hold of Voldemort's shoulder after he stunned him again, he put a hood over his prisoner's head. He held out his hand.
"Accio Cup!"
. . . . . . .
Presentation Platform for Tri-Wizard Cup
"CRACK!"
Everyone jumped as Harry appeared with a bound and hooded man.
Minister Fudge gasped. "What is the meaning of this!"
Spotting the head of the DMLE, Harry ignored the Minister and said. "Headmaster! Madam Bones! We need to go to the Headmaster's office right now, I will explain there."
"Harry" asked Dumbledore "Is that…Tom?"
"Yes"
"Oh my."
Grabbing Riddle, the Headmaster said to Harry and Amelia "Hold my arm." And they apparated to the headmaster's office.
"What in Merlin's name is going on Dumbledore! Who is this and what happened to his hands"
Harry spoke up as he started to remove the hood. "Please meet Tom Marvolo Riddle, otherwise known as –"
"VOLDEMORT!" she cried. "How did he… How did you?..."
"I knew the tournament might be a trap and took what precautions I could." Harry proceeded to explain what had happened in the maze and in the graveyard stopping before he got to the part about the death eaters. "I couldn't risk anyone else dying, so I left Cedric in the maze. This setup only made sense if we left Hogwarts and the cup WAS a portkey after all. Like all evil overlords I knew Voldemort would gloat even if he was resurrected and I would have time."
"But how did you know?" she asked.
"Ah, Dobby."
With a pop the elf appeared,
"Yes Mr Harry Potter sir?"
"Did you catch him Dobby?"
"Yes, bad wizard man is caught! But he looks different now than when I caught him!"
"Don't worry, I think I know why that has happened. Please bring him here"
Dobby popped away and returned with a bound and unconscious form.
Madam Bones gasped again. "Barty Crouch Jr, but he died in Azkaban. What's he doing in Moody's clothes?"
"He's been polyjuiced to be Moody, He appeared to be casting something at Victor Krum just as I went into the maze. Seeing how Victor cast the Cruiciatus curse on Cedric, which he was unlikely to do of his own volition; I assume he was Imperiused by someone nearby. I called Dobby to me in the maze and got him to look for him and stun and bind him."
"But he is buried in Azkaban!"
"It appears rumours of his demise were exaggerated…." Harry drolly replied.
"Apparently," sighed Amelia. "Albus, once this is over I want a large Firewhiskey from your private cellar!"
"Amelia, I suspect we will both be having one." Replied the Headmaster.
"Before we continue Madam Bones, you need to send a team to the graveyard at Little Hangleton, there are a number of dead death-eaters there…including Lucius Malfoy."
"WHAT! How!_"
"I killed them."
"But_"
"I'm only a child? I had some assistance from the non-magical world, which does NOT threaten the Statute of Secrecy. I will not discuss my methods until this matter is resolved completely. It represents a significant tactical advantage."
Madam Bones floo'ed the DMLE and ordered a team sent immediately to Little Hangleton and got Aurors Tonks and Shacklebolt into the Headmaster's office as backup.
"Boss, here is the Veritaserum you asked for" said Tonks.
"Who first?" asked Amelia
"Barty I think." Replied the headmaster.
After stunning Voldemort a second time to make sure they weren't interrupted, Madam Bones found out the details of the plot. Following suggestions from Harry, she discovered that Sirius Black was innocent. Harry also told her where the late Peter Pettigrew was.
Hearing a commotion outside, the Headmaster admitted the Minister of Magic.
"What is the meaning of this!" cried the Minister.
"That is Voldemort."
"Preposterous!" shouted Fudge, "Lucius assured me he was dead. It's what broke the Imperius on him."
"Ah," said Harry. "Would that be the same Lucius Malfoy that I killed after he answered Voldemort's summons earlier tonight? The Lucius Malfoy hat arrived in full death-eater regalia?"
Fudge stared at Harry in horror. "What! Madam Bones, arrest Potter"
"Minister, until we have all the evidence, there are no grounds to arrest him."
"You're fired." The Minister turned to the two Aurors. "Arrest him!"
Kingsley looked at him with disdain. " We work for Madam Bones"
"Cornelius, you can't dismiss Madam Bones without presenting your reasons to the Wizengamot and getting their agreement." the Headmaster said calmly.
"But he killed a fine upstanding member of the community!"
"In your dreams, or should I say in your vaults?" said Harry with the sneer worthy of Snape.
Fudge purpled, "How dare you imply_"
"Madam Bones," said Harry. "In return for a certain sword that I promised to them, the goblins have agreed to provide me information on transactions between certain vaults owned by the late Mr Malfoy and the Minister's vault. I believe you will find them enlightening."
Fudge paled and sat down suddenly.
"Minister" said Harry softly. "Care to resign? At best you are corrupt fool and at worst a traitor to magical society. Go now and stay out of politics and you can enjoy your quiet retirement and never be seen again. Stay and you will also never be seen again as no visitors are allowed to Azkaban" Harry finished, his voice now cold.
"I'll go," said Fudge shakily.
"A wise choice" replied Harry. "Now, leave this investigation to Madam Bones."
Fudge nodded and floo'ed to the ministry where he went to his office and wrote and signed the last piece of correspondence that would show him as Minister of Magic, his resignation.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Meanwhile, in the headmaster's office, Sirius had arrived and been questioned by Madam Bones under Veritaserum and all charges against him were dropped. He would later receive compensation form the ministry.
Madam Pomfrey had been called and Riddle's injuries had been stabilised although nothing could be done about his missing hands, not that anyone felt much sympathy for him.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
In short order, Riddle was pumped full of Veritaserum and details of his resurrection and horcruxes were revealed. Sirius recognized the description of the locket at Grimmauld Place so that was easily retrieved. With Harry's Parseltongue ability, all the traps were disabled around all the Horcruxes which were all gathered and destroyed. Harry's scar was investigated and the Horcrux removed by the goblins.
Dumbledore revealed the prophecy to Harry and it was agreed that Harry would be the one to push the Dark Lord through the veil. A month later, after Voldemort had been drained of information, Harry, Sirius, the headmaster and at Harry's request, Hermione went to the Veil room with the new minister, Amelia Bones. With Harry's backing, it had been a landslide victory.
Using a basilisk fang, Harry destroyed the remaining Horcruxes one by one, enjoying the look of horror on the silenced and bound Riddle.
Harry then rolled the wheeled chair in front of the veil and spun it around so Tom was facing him.
With a slightly manic smile, he spoke.
Harry: "Hello! My name is Harry Potter! You killed my parents, prepare to die!"
Voldemort: "Please,"
Harry: "Offer me money."
Voldemort: "Yes!"
Harry: "Power, too, promise me that."
Voldemort: All that I have and more. Please..."
Harry: "Offer me everything I ask for."
Voldemort: "Anything you want..."
Harry: "I want my family back, you son of a bitch." With that, he kicked the chair through the veil and Riddle's scream was abruptly cut off.
Turning, he walked back to the others where he was glomped by Hermione with her patented Hermihug™.
With Riddle finally gone and the main death-eaters dead, Harry felt it was safe enough to ask this or the girl who had been by his side for 4 years. He looked into Hermione's eyes and asked "Hermione, will you be my girlfriend?" She smiled, "Finally! I thought you would never ask!" she said as she leaned in for their first kiss.
THE END
A/N Well as I said, the first story I wrote, although not the first I published. Please review, it's my only payment. :)